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The end-to-end test of the Chandra X-ray Observatory began this morning at 7 a.m. as scheduled. This 24-hour test will verify the communications path to Chandra, commanding it as if it were in space. Participating are Chandra's Operations Control Center located in Cambridge, MA, Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, the communications assets of both the Deep Space Network and the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) system.

On Saturday, June 4, the two-day interface verification test was successfully completed with no issues or concerns. This test validated the Chandra/Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) connections and checked the orbiter avionics interfaces.

Upon successfully completing the end-to-end test, the Chandra/IUS payload separation ordnance will be installed and payload closeouts will be performed in preparation for making the transition to Launch Pad 39-B. The Chandra/IUS combination will be transferred into the transportation canister on June 18. The payload will now be moved to the pad payload changeout room on June 19 and installed into Columbia's payload bay on June 24.

The IUS, a two-stage solid propellant booster, arrived at the Kennedy Space Center's Vertical Processing Facility (VPF) on Tuesday, June 1. On Wednesday, June 2, the Chandra X-ray Observatory was mated to the IUS.
At this time, the STS-93 launch is targeted for July 22. However, this date is under review.